Salem's benevolent Benny, the anonymous philanthropist who leaves $100 bills in many places around the community, must be shaking his head.

This past weekend, at least 27 artists who had booths at the Salem Art Fair & Festival, a summer staple for decades, reported Benny bills were found in their booths.

This discovery of $2,700 led to awkward moments and confusion among vendors and the public alike.

One art fair patron, not familiar with the Benny legend, surrendered the $100 bill to the vendor thinking it belonged to her.

This isn't the first time that a finder's first instinct was to turn it in. Last year, a family at the World Beat Festival happened on two of the bills and tried to turn them in to fair volunteers. They were cheerfully told to keep the money.

As have many other shoppers who've found the bills tucked into packages on store shelves, slipped into coin purses and rested on doorsteps, or passed over a window left down in a parked car.

But this year's art fair had a number of vendors who believed the money was intended for them and that's sad.

Benny, as he was nicknamed by Statesman Journal columnist Capi Lynn, is short for Benjamin Franklin, whose visage is on the $100 bill. The mystery benefactor has been spreading his generosity in Salem for the past five years, and according to those who've reported their good fortune to Lynn, he has left more than $81,000 during that time.

It's hard not to be disappointed by some vendors at the art fair who believe Benny intended them to be the recipients of his neatly folded and signed cash.

That would be like Fred Meyer managers expecting patrons who've found the bills tucked in diaper packages or in a bundle of hangers to turn the bills into store officials.

Or organizers asking folks who've found a Benny pinned to a quilt at the state fair to turn it into the state.

Or ATM officials asking recipients who find the bills in portable cash machines to turn in the cash.

Is it so hard to be happy for others?

We can't speak for Benny, but it is troubling because the Salem Art Fair & Festival went so far as to send an email, this year and last, to participating artists in advance to make them aware of the legend.

Since many artists come from out of the area and don't know about Benny's generosity, the association made sure vendors knew about the gracious act.

It's pretty easy to assume Benny's intentions are to make someone's day better. True, vendors who pay to display their wares at the fair can have their day brightened by a $100 bill, too.

But Benny apparently left cash in obvious spots just for vendors as well.

We don't believe for a second that the intent of Benny's generosity is to create ill will or hard feelings. His mission is clearly to bring hope and relief.

Many who find the cash use it to pay bills. Others pay it forward and use the cash to make a donation to a worthy cause such as helping the homeless or feeding someone who can't make ends meet.

Or by buying art from a vendor at the fair.

We would hope vendors at the fair change their minds and embrace the spirit of Salem's Benny.